He said at a conference on strengthening dengue fever prevention work held by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Đắk Lắk Province on Sunday that localities should closely monitor the situation to detect and treat the disease early as well as to limit and control the disease outbreak.

The Deputy PM requested the provinces intensify their communication campaign to raise public awareness on disease prevention. Local residents are encouraged to spray chemicals to wipe out mosquitoes and larvae and throw away used water containers.

Hospital and healthcare units have been asked to prepare adequate medical materials and facilities for receiving and treating patients with an aim of minimising fatalities.

The Provincial health department has been requested to instruct and inspect localities about supervision as well as provide preventive and treatment plans to help them battle the dengue fever outbreak.

According to Trần Đắc Phu, head of the Preventive Health Department, the Central Highlands region has so far reported more than 7,410 dengue fever cases, including four deaths. Gia Lai Province recorded the highest number of infections with 3,081 cases, followed by Đắk Lắk, Kon Tum and Đăk Nông with 1,865 cases, 1,387 cases and 1,079 cases, respectively.

The rate of dengue fever infections in the region remains high, at about 168 cases per 100,000 people. The disease has occurred in 48 out of 50 districts of four Central Highlands provinces namely Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông.

The outbreak of the disease in the region was attributed to the acute drought, which forced local residents to increase water storage, providing the perfect conditions for the development of mosquito larvae.

In addition, the low awareness of local residents on disease prevention was also a reason for a surge in dengue fever cases.

Earlier last week, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc had sent a dispatch requesting provinces, cities and relevant sectors nationwide to implement measures to kill mosquitoes and mosquito larvae with traditional methods or chemicals in their homes. Places of high risk of dengue fever were construction sites, those with a high density of population or water shortage and areas with unhygienic conditions, he said.

People with dengue symptoms, such as high fever, headache and muscle or joint pains, should go to hospitals immediately for examination and treatment, instead of administering self-treatment at home.

The health departments at localities have been asked to work closely with the mass media to provide timely and sufficient information about dengue fever and measures to prevent it from spreading in the community. – VNS